Apparatus for wet treatment of films or the like

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS FOR WET TREATMENT OF FILMS OR LIKE SHEET MATERIALS WHEREIN A RECEPTACLE ACCOMMODATES TWO SUPERIMPOSED VESSELS EACH CONTAINING A SUPPLY OF LIQUID. ONE SIDE OF THE RECEPTACLE HAS TWO OPENINGS ONE OF WHICH ADMITS SHEET MATERIAL INTO THE INLET OF THE LOWER VESSEL AND THE OTHER OF WHICH RECEIVES TREATED MATERIAL FROM THE OUTLET OF THE UPPER VESSEL. A CURVED GUIDE STRUCTURE IS PROVIDED IN THE RECETACLE AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RECEPTACLE TO DIRECT SHEET MATERIAL FROM THE OUTLET OF THE LOWER VESSEL INTO THE INLET OF THE UPPER VESSEL. A FIRST PAIR OF DRIVEN ROLLERS ADVANCES SHEET MATERIAL BETWEEN THE OUTLET OF THE LOWER VESSEL AND THE INLET OF THE UPPER VESSEL, AND A SECOND PAIR OF DRIVEN ROLLERS ADVANCES SHEET MATERIAL BETWEEN THE OUTLET OF THE UPPER VESSEL AND THE OTHER OPENING OF THE RECEPTACLE. A THIR OPENING IS PROVIDED IN THE RECEPTACLE TO DIRECT SHEET MATERIAL DIRECTLY INTO THE INLET OF THE UPPER VESSEL.

March 7, 1972 THATE ETAL APPARATUS FOR WET TREATMENT OF FILMS OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 14, 1970 l l i l i M mm m. I W H I W N I W m AW I ll! h l lT ll I H H U Q? A m. WW QM \l/ q w l M All ////l INVENTORS KURT THA'LE BY JURGEN MULLER US. Cl. 156-345 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for wet treatment of films or like sheet materials wherein a receptacle accommodates two superimposed vessels each containing a supply of liquid. One side of the receptacle has two openings one of which admits sheet material into the inlet of the lower vessel and the other of which receives treated material from the outlet of the upper vessel. A curved guide structure is provided in the receptacle at the other side of the receptacle to direct sheet material from the outlet of the lower vessel into the inlet of the upper vessel. A first pair of driven rollers advances sheet material between the outlet of the lower vessel and the inlet of the upper vessel, and a second pair of driven rollers advances sheet material between the outlet of the upper vessel and the other opening of the receptacle. A third opening is provided in the receptacle to direct sheet material. directly into the inlet of the upper vessel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for wet treatment of films or other types of sheet materials. For example, the apparatus of the present invention can be used to treat sheets which are employed in lithoprinting and which must be exposed and developed and thereupon passed through an etching solution and finally through a water bath.

It is already known to provide an apparatus for wet treatment of films or the like with a pair of superimposed vesselseach of which contains a diiferent liquid. The filmsare transported by driven rollers in such a way that each sheet enters one of the vessels and is expelled from the apparatus subsequent to passage through the body of liquid in the one vessel. The thus treated sheet is thereupon reintroduced into the apparatus to pass through the body of liquid in the other vessel. A drawback of such procedure is that the material must be threaded into the apparatus not once but twice; this consumes much time and normally necessitates the presence of two attendants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of. the invention is to provide an apparatus for wet treatment of films or like sheet materials wherein the materials can be treated by contact with several liquids, which occupies little room, and which can automatically transport successive sheets through a series of liquid baths.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact apparatus for wet treatment of sheet materials wherein the material to be treated can be caused to pass through a single liquid bath or through a plurality of baths.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein the surplus of liquid is automatically removed before the treated material leaves the apparatus.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which comprises a small number of relatively simple part-s, wherein the mixing of various liquids is United States Patent ice minimized, and which can be supervised and serviced by a single person.

"containing vessels located in the receptacle and each having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of one of the vessels (e.g., the lower vessel) being positioned to receive sheet material from the first opening and the outlet of the other vessel being positioned to discharge sheet material toward the second opening, and guide means provided in the receptacle to direct sheet material from the outlet of the one vessel toward and into the inlet of the other vessel.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single figure is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of an apparatus which embodies the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The drawing illustrates an apparatus which is utilized for wet treatment of films F or other sheet-like materials. It comprises a receptable or housing including a lower portion or tank 10 and an upper portion or cover 11 which overlies the tank 10. The receptacle further comprises two upright parallel supporting members or platens 1 (only one shown) which are accommodated in the tank 10 and extend upwardly into the interior of the cover 11. The platens 1 flank and support two superimposed vessels 2, 3 each consisting essentially of a suitably curved bottom wall whereby the median part of the bottom wall of the upper vessel 3 extends into the interior of the lower vessel 2. These bottom walls define the inlet 2A and the outlet 2B of the lower vessel 2 and a passage 2C which accommodates a supply of liquid, e.g., an etching solution. The passage 2C tapers toward the inlet 2A and outlet 2B to insure that the exposed surface of liquid in the vessel 2 is reduced to a minimum. This is important when the liquid in the vessel 2 should be at least substantially sealed from air. The upper vessel 3 has an inlet 3A which is located above the outlet 2B and an outlet 3B located above the inlet 2A. The cover 11 is provided with a sheet-admitting first opening 11a which is arranged to direct sheet material F into the inlet 2A and a sheet-discharging second opening 11b which is adjacent to the opening 11a and is positioned to receive sheet material F from the outlet 3B of the vessel 3. The latter accommodates a second supply of liquid, e.g., water. It will be noted that the openings 11a, 11b are located at the righthand side of the receptacle 10, 11 and that the outlet 2B and inlet 3A are located at the left-hand side of the receptacle.

The apparatus further comprises suitably configurated guide means 5 which performs several functions including guiding sheet material F from the outlet 2A into the inlet 3B so that the material which has advanced through the passage 20 enters the body of liquid in the vessel 3 and is thereupon discharged through the opening 11b. The guide means 5 includes a first portion 5a which serves to guide the sheet material from the outlet 2B into the inlet 3A and an integral second portion or,

deflecting means b which extends into liquid in the vessel 3 and causes the sheet material F to dip into such liquid prior to reaching the outlet 3B. The cover 11 is further provided with a sheet-admitting third opening 110 which is positioned to direct sheet material FF (indicated by phantom lines) into the upper vessel 3 in the region of the inlet 3A. The opening 11c admits material which must pass through a single liquid bath.

The upper vessel 3 further comprises a perforated partition 4 which dips into the liquid in this vessel and also forms part of the guide means for sheet material. The outlet 3B is located between the right-hand end of the partition 4 and the adjacent end of the deflecting portion 5b. The parts 4, 5 preferably consist of synthetic plastic material and the partition 4 can be glued to the vessel 3.

The panels 1 are provided with substantially V-shaped sockets 1a, 1b which receive complementary portions of the guide means 5 to support the latter in requisite position. If the panels 1 and the vessels 2, 3 consist of synthetic plastic material, the vessels can be secured to the panels by means of an adhesive or by welding. Welding is normally preferred if the parts 1, 2 and 3 consist of a metallic material.

The apparatus further comprises two sheet-advancing units 12, 13 which are respectively installed in the receptacle in the region of the outlet 3B and between the outlet 2B and inlet 3A. The unit 12 comprises two squeezing rollers 8, 9 which preferably consist of rubber or other elastic material and are biased against each other by springs 14 or the like (only one spring shown). The other sheet-advancing unit 13 comprises cooperating squeezing rollers 6, 7 which are also biased against each other and preferably consist of elastic material. The means for driving the rollers 6-9 at the same speed preferably comprises a variable-speed motor (not shown) or a variable-speed transmission and sets of mating gears 15 (only one shown). The drive for the rollers 6-9 is preferably designed to rotate all of these rollers at the same speed.

The operation:

Sheet material F is introduced through the opening 11a so that it passes through the inlet 2A, thereupon through the liquid in the vessel 2 and outlet 2B to reach the nip between the driven squeezing rollers 6, 7. These rollers remove the surplus of first liquid and advance the sheet material F against the portion 5a of the guide means 5 whereby the leading end of the material passes through the inlet 3A, the body of liquid in the upper vessel 3, outlet 3B and into the nip between the driven squeezing rollers 8, 9 which remove the surplus of second liquid and advance the material F into and through the opening 11b. If the sheet material is an exposed and developed foil for use in lithoprinting, the vessel 2 accommodates a supply of etching solution and the vessel 3 accommodates a body of water. The treatment to which the foil is then subjected during travel through the vessels 2, 3 is necessary prior to printing. The bottom wall of the upper vessel 3 insures that the sheet material F dips into the etching solution and the deflecting portion 5b of the guide means 5 insures that the sheet material dips into the body of water.

If the material (FF) to be treated is a foil which was already used for printing and which must only pass through the water bath in the upper vessel 3, the material is introduced by way of the opening 110 and is pushed into the vessel 3 until its leading end enters the nip between the driven rollers 8, 9. From there on, the material is automatically transported through the water bath and from the receptacle. The rollers 8, 9 remove the surplus of water before the material FF leaves the apparatus.

It is clear that the apparatus can be designed to transport sheets F from the opening 11b, through the upper vessel 3, into the lower vessel 2 and into and through the opening 11a. An advantage of the apparatus is that the vessels occupy little room and that the admission and evacuation of successive sheets take placeat the same side of the receptacle. A single person can take care of admission of fresh sheets and of evacuation of treated sheets.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gistof the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications'without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of our contribution to the art and,therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended Within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desiredv to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. A compact container apparatus for wet treatment of films or other sheet materials, particularly for wet treatment of materials for use in lithoprinting, comprising a receptable having a sheet-admitting first opening and a sheet-discharging second opening adjacent to said first opening; a pair of superimposed vessels located in said receptacle and each having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of one of said vessels being positioned to receive sheet material from said first opening and the outlet of the other vessel being positioned to discharge sheet material toward said second opening, said vessels being arranged to contain discrete bodies of different liquids and to hold such bodies against communication with each other; and guide means provided in said receptacle for reversing the sheet path to direct said sheet material from the outlet of said one vessel into the inlet of said other vessel.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said vessels comprise curved walls along which the sheet material passes through the respective liquids. 1

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said receptacle has a first side provided with said openings and a second side remote from said first side, the outlet of said one vessel and the inlet of said other vessel being adjacent to said second side.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising first and second sheet-advancing means respectively located at the outlet of said other vessel and between the outlet of said one vessel and the inlet of said other vessel.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said sheet-advancing means comprises a pair of driven squeezing rollers consisting at least in part of elastic material.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said sheet-advancing means further comprises means for biasing at least one roller of the respective pair against the other roller.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said receptable is provided with a third opening for admitting sheet material into said other vessel.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said third opening is provided in the region of the inlet of said other vessel.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said one vessel comprises a first bottom wall and said other vessel comprises a second bottom wall extending into said one vessel, said bottom walls defining the inlet and the outlet of said one vessel and a passage for sheet material extending through said one vessel and tapering toward the inlet and outlet of said one vessel.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said receptacle comprises a lower portion and a cover overlying said lower portion, said openings being provided in said cover.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said cover is provided with a third opening for directing sheet material into said other vessel.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said other vessel is located above said one vessel and further comprising deflecting means for directing sheet material into the liquid in said other vessel.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said deflecting means forms part of said guide means.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said receptable is provided with substantially V-shaped socket means for said guide means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,033,095 5/1962 Limberger 9575 6 FOREIGN PATENTS 393,919 11/1965 Switzerland 9589 L 5 JACOB H. STEINBERG, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

